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accelerate

/ækˈsɛləreɪt/

/ækˈsɛləreɪt/

Other forms: accelerated; accelerating; accelerates

Accelerate means to speed up. A car accelerates when you step on the gas. You can accelerate the process of getting a visa if you happen to know someone who works in the consulate.

The fastest Amtrak trains are called the Acela line, a made-up word intended to suggest accelerate and therefore communicate that these trains are fast. If you are standing close to one when it zooms by, you may find yourself having an accelerated heart rate — they move pretty fast!

Definitions of accelerate
  1. verb
    move faster
    “The car accelerated
    synonyms: quicken, speed, speed up
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    decelerate, retard, slow, slow down, slow up
    lose velocity; move more slowly
    types:
    brisk, brisk up, brisken
    become brisk
    type of:
    deepen, intensify
    become more intense
  2. verb
    cause to move faster
    “He accelerated the car”
    synonyms: speed, speed up
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    decelerate, slow down
    reduce the speed of
    type of:
    alter, change, modify
    cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
Pronunciation
US

/ækˈsɛləreɪt/

UK

/ækˈsɛləreɪt/

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘accelerate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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